Graffiti defaces multiple Plainview locations

Published 5:30 am, Thursday, September 5, 2013

A wall at Motion Industries shows the graffiti markings made at businesses, parks and a school in Plainview over the weekend.

A wall at Motion Industries shows the graffiti markings made at businesses, parks and a school in Plainview over the weekend.

Photo: Ryan Crowe/Plainview Herald

Graffiti defaces multiple Plainview locations

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A rash of graffiti at Plainview businesses, parks and a school over the weekend will likely add up to felony charges for the unknown perpetrators.

The three distinct markings have been spotted at businesses that front West Fifth Street and two parks near Milwaukee Street, as well as Plainview High School.

The unknown markings were first spotted by Plainview police officers on patrol early Monday morning inside the restrooms at Lloyd C. Woods Park. Similar markings were discovered on a trail map at Running Water Draw Hike and Bike Trail at Fourth and Milwaukee.

When circling back from the trail, officers noticed the same marking on the side of the Davis Kinnard & Co. building at Fifth and Milwaukee. “This is the first time since the firm has been here that we’ve been tagged,” said Blaine Smith, a CPA with the company, referencing the slang term “tagging” used for graffiti.

Officers also noticed the markings at the Motion Industries building at 701 W. Sixth. “An officer told us he saw it as he came by,” said Toni Ayres with Motion Industries. “The officer didn’t even know if it had been called in yet.”

There were so many of them that Plainview Parks Superintendent Rusty Reese said it caught him by surprise. “It’s been a quiet summer for graffiti,” he said. “It comes and goes, but we had a long weekend, and kids were back out.”

Reese said the city quickly painted over the markings at both parks. “The longer it sits, the harder it is to get off.”

Richard Mitchell, manager at Fastenal where the unknown suspects also hit, said they too will have to paint over the graffiti soon. “Either us or someone else,” he said, joking that he didn’t appreciate the art.

Neither has the Plainview Police Department. Because the damage amount to repaint is greater than $1,500, the suspect or suspects will be facing felony charges for the weekend criminal mischief.

“If we combine them all together and find out who did it, it will be considered a felony,” said police Capt. Manuel Balderas. Another felony charge will be handed down for spraying graffiti at Plainview High School, Balderas said. According to the Texas Attorney General’s Office, it is a felony to mark graffiti on a school, place of worship or burial, public monument or community center.

For businesses like Fastenal, Motion Industries and Davis Kinnard, it is a hassle with both labor and money.

“There is more than one way to fix it,” Smith said, motioning to the wall outside Davis Kinnard. “The better way is to paint the whole wall. We’ll try to do something to make it look like we’ve never been tagged.”

Balderas did say while they do not have suspect information yet, they are investigating, and Crime Stoppers will offer up to $500 for information in the case.

If you have any information, you are encouraged to contact Plainview Crime Stoppers at 806-293-8477.